Chapter 36
I stepped down from the carriage, stretched out my arms, and breathed deeply. I wanted to feel this city with my whole body.
Yes—this was it. This air. The mix of street food smells, the sweet fragrance, the noisy chatter, the sound of a blacksmith hammering metal in the distance.
Owen, seeing my expression, chuckled softly and stood beside me.
“This is your first time in Cantalice, isn’t it?”
I nodded. At least in this lifetime, it was.
“And you?”
“Actually, it’s also my first time. But I’ve heard many stories. They say you can find good treasures in the alleys.”
That was true. You could even say all the trends in the capital started here in Cantalice. After all, most of the capital’s goods were supplied from here.
The big names of society—the ones who set trends—would come to Cantalice to buy unique accessories and clothes. When they displayed them back in the capital, the style immediately became a trend.
But the real reason I had loved coming to Cantalice in my past life wasn’t the fashion. It was because the food here was absolutely delicious.
So of course, we had to eat lunch before it got too late.
It was the third day of our journey, and we had already gotten far from the capital. The clothes of passersby looked different now. It was clear we were the only ones from the capital. That also meant we no longer had to worry about meeting acquaintances. Quietly, the three of us removed our cloaks.
“The weather is lovely.”
“Yes. I was worried it might be cold, but it’s just right.”
We had been traveling north for three days. You could feel it—the weather grew cooler each day. Luckily, now it was just past noon, with warm sunlight. Perfect for walking around.
Arne’s eyes widened as he looked around curiously.
“This is amazing, Mom. It looks like lots of Noiden people live here.”
“That’s right, Arne. Many of them do.”
The continent was huge, so people from Cruiden, Noiden, and Werden had slightly different features. But at first glance, it was hard to tell them apart.
As we walked toward a restaurant, Owen suddenly glanced back. Then he leaned close to me and whispered in a low voice:
“There are people tailing us.”
“!”
“Keep walking naturally.”
Actually, I had felt it too. Two or three people hiding behind buildings, watching us from a distance.
In numbers, it was about equal. But since we had Arne, a child, with us, it would be disadvantageous if a fight broke out. I tightened my grip on Arne’s hand and pulled him closer to me.
But strangely, I didn’t feel too tense.
Because honestly, they didn’t seem like strong opponents. Not like Leonie’s people, or Bambi’s. If it came to it, I could handle them.
So I asked casually:
“What do you think they want? Robbers?”
For robbers, they were sloppy.
To my surprise, Owen already knew.
“Most likely, they were sent by my mother.”
“…What?!”
I almost shouted, then quickly lowered my voice. I couldn’t give signals to those people.
I composed myself and whispered like a ventriloquist:
“Why would the Duchess send people to spy on us?”
“To be honest… I didn’t expect it either. I’m surprised myself.”
“That sounds ominous.”
Owen shook his head.
“My mother is not someone who bothers herself with tedious things. So perhaps she’s more interested in you than I expected.”
That was interest I didn’t need.
But Owen remained calm.
“Think of it as gaining extra spectators. And if it’s my mother, it’s not a bad sign. In fact, it’s unusual.”
…Alright, Sophia. He’s right. So your future mother-in-law sent spies—so what? All I had to do was carry myself with dignity as always.
I straightened my back and walked elegantly.
Arne glanced at me.
“Mom, why are you walking so stiff and creaky?”
…Because my body and heart weren’t in sync. Ugh.
The Cruiden Empire, the Noiden Kingdom, and the Werden Kingdom. Among them, Noiden was especially famous for its royal cuisine.
And here in Cantalice—where many Noiden people lived—it was the only city where you could taste Noiden royal dishes made in local style.
We went to the most famous restaurant in Cantalice, run by a retired royal chef from Noiden’s palace. Inside, it was as splendid as a royal banquet hall.
A servant, dressed in Noiden fashion, guided us to a private room overlooking the city’s beautiful view.
As soon as we ordered and the waiter left, I hurriedly asked:
“Owen, how did you even get a reservation here?”
The number of guests per day was limited, and getting a booking was as difficult as plucking a star from the sky. Even in my past life, I had never managed to come here. And this was a private room, no less!
“That’s because this restaurant belongs to House Glentino.”
“…What?”
“To be precise, the entire city of Cantalice is managed by our family.”
“…What?!”
The whole city?!
“Oh, that’s actually a secret. Now you’ll have no choice but to become part of the Glentino family.”
“…Excuse me?!”
Arne tugged my sleeve.
“Mom, you told me a free city doesn’t belong to any noble house.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then why does the Duke’s family manage it?”
Good question.
I looked at Owen. He explained instead.
Originally, a free city meant one not belonging to any noble’s territory, where trade and industry thrived instead of farming.
But cities still needed policing, welfare, and administration. So usually, a nearby lord was paid taxes to manage it. In famous free cities, guilds even auctioned off management rights because the taxes collected were so high.
“And in this case, the Emperor gave Cantalice to House Glentino, recognizing the family’s achievements as founding nobles. It’s not widely known.”
Also, many Noiden immigrants were friendly toward House Glentino.
In the early days of the Empire, the Gasperaronche imperial family had wanted to execute all Noiden royals and fully absorb the kingdom.
But Glentino and another founding family, House Doyle, strongly opposed. They argued that killing the royal line would create endless resentment and rebellion.
In the end, the Emperor gave up on the plan, keeping Noiden as a vassal kingdom instead.
Because of this, Glentino never faced hatred from Noiden people despite being part of the Empire.
“I always wondered where the Glentino fortune came from.”
The words slipped from my mouth. With Cantalice under them, the income must have been massive—several times bigger than an average territory.
Knock, knock.
The waiter briefly opened the door to bring dishes. Through the gap, I could see the restaurant’s main hall.
And among the guests, one person stood out.
That lush lavender hair beneath a cloak. Striking eyes. Luxurious clothes.
“Lady Enica?”
In my past life, she had led every trend in high society. The queen of gossip, admired by men and women alike. The future Countess Macaroni.
Why was she here?
No—more important was this:
If Lady Enica noticed me here, rumors about me and Owen would spread through the Empire by tomorrow.
Worst of all, Enica was close to my sister Leonie. Or rather, Leonie had successfully charmed this social giant. Unlike me, Leonie was lively, outwardly sweet, and—through effort—had impeccable fashion sense. By now, she might have already had tea parties with Lady Enica.
Just then, Lady Enica raised her head. And, as if sensing me, turned directly this way.
